Characterization of Detectors for Beam Loss Measurements

Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) are a good candidate for use as beam loss detectors in an accelerator due to their insensitivity to magnetic fields, compactness and relatively low voltage working regime. Furthermore, when used in large numbers, they are significantly cheaper to be mass-produced than more conventional detectors, such as Ionization Chambers. To be able to evaluate the application potential of SiPMs in an accelerator, it is necessary to quantify their fundamental parameters as light detectors, as well as in combination with an optical fiber used for signal generation. In this contribution an experimental and analytical study to determine the time resolution, light sensitivity and dynamic range of a Cherenkov light detector, based on SiPMs, is presented.